Birth:William Hilton was born about 1591, the son of
William Hilton of Northwich, Cheshire.
Death: He died
between June 28, 1655, and June 30, 1656.
Ship:
Fortune, 1621
Life in England: Nothing is known
of his life in England.
Life in New England: William
Hilton arrived in Plymouth Colony in 1621. His wife and two children joined
him in the summer of 1623. Shortly after arriving in Plymouth,
Hilton wrote a letter, later included in Captain John Smith’s account
of New England, to a cousin in Old England. In this letter, Hilton spoke
enthusiastically of life in the new colony, saying in part,“I
know not
anything a contented mind can here want.” In 1624, he had a child baptized by
Reverend John Lyford although he was not a member of the church.This action
was one of the first
in the controversy between Lyford and the Plymouth
government. Hilton and his family left Plymouth Colony soon thereafter. He
may have joined his brother Edward on the Piscataqua
directly. He was in
Dover by 1628, later moving to Kittery (1648) and York (1651). He served in
various official capacities, including juror and committeeman, in Dover, and
York. While
in Kittery he was a tavern keeper and ferry
operator.
Family: William Hilton married ___ ____ by
1616 and had four children. She died by 1636. He married (2) about that
time Frances ____ and had four children.After his death she married (2)
Richard White by June 30, 1656.: William Hilton married ___ ____ by 1616 and
had four children. She died by 1636. He married (2) about that
time Frances ____ and had four children.After his death she married (2)
Richard White by June 30, 1656.
Children of William and his first
wife:
- Elizabeth was baptized in Northwich on June 27, 1616, and buried there
August 1, 1616.
- William was baptized in Northwich on June 22, 1617. He married (1) Sarah
Greenleaf by 1641 and had at least one child. He married (2) Mehitable Nowell on
September 16, 1659, at Charlestown.
- Mary was baptized at Northwich on May 11, 1619. She apparently came to
Plymouth Colony in 1623, but nothing further is known.
- John was born in Plymouth about 1624.
Children of William
and Frances Hilton:
- Magdalene was born about 1636. She married (1) James Wiggin by 1656. She
married (2) Henry Kenning in 1698.
- Mainwaring was born by 1646. He married Mary Moulton about 1671 and had at
least one daughter. He died before July 4, 1671.
- Agnes was born about 1647. She married Arthur Beale by 1667.
- William was born about 1653. He married Ann _____ by 1678.